Means for detecting submarine boats



E. A. SPERRY.

MEANS FOR DETECTING SUBMARTNE BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7. 19:].

1,427,560. Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

i "ll 1 "I R T 1TH", HT.

E. A. SPERRY. MEANS FOR DETECTING SUBMARINE BOATS. APPLICATION FILED iUNE 1. I917.

1,427,560, I Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

zvma a INVENTOI? [/MER HSPERR Y. if 87 To all whom it may concern.-

UNiTED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER Ax SPERRY. F BRQOKLYN, Y ORK.

MEANS FOR nncrnc'rmo sum mama Boers.

.York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Detecting Submarine Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a means for com- 'municating the presence and location of submarine vessels. It has been proposed to employ for this purpose, a snare net or netslocated under the water and adapted 'to be engaged by the submarine, a signalling means being employed, such as a buoy containing radio transmission, apparatus; to transmit signals to a patrol boat indicating that the net has been struck or carried away. The main object of this invention is to im-- prove upon apparatus of this character whereby it is rendered suitable for use upon the high sea.

Referring to the drawings in which what I now consider the preferred forms of my invention are shown;

Fig. 1 is a View of a net snare showing two adjacent net units thereof, and the signalling apparatus in the inoperative position. I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the bottom portion of the signalling buoy showing the signal operating and anchoring means. I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of'the snap hook used thereon. a

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one of the reels used on the bottom of the net for taking up the slack in the connecting cables.

Fig. 5 is an elevation partly in section of the complete signallingbuoy.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a mgdified form ofsignal operating mechanism.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the separable connections employed between the nets.

Figs. 8-and 9 are two views of means employed to fasten the nets securely together when they arebeing launched or laid.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view showing the attachment of the mast to the float Preferably the net [snare or barrielf I propose to use comprises aplurality of nets,

' two of which are illustrated-lat l and 2" in Fig. 1. The saidnets are preferably formed ;of galvanized steel wire: or cab e withja I large mesh andare sup'p orted at the top-by a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au .'29, 1922.

Application filed June 7, 1917. Serial No. 173,276.

, plurality of buoys 3. In order to hold the nets in place, each net is secured to the adjacent net'and also to an anchoring means such as an anchor cable 4, which may extend throughout the length of a number of nets. Both connectionsare preferably separable, however, so that any net which is engaged may be readilydetached. The said cable is shown as supported from the nets by wires 5 having a shearing pin 6 or equivalent form of separable connection located therein. When used in deep water the cable is preferably. provided with a plurality of buoyant members 7 adapted to support the greater portion'of the weight of the cable,

but to leave it somewhat heavier than water. Each of the nets is shown as provided with a reel-8 or 8" on which is wound rope or wire 9 or 9' extending to buoy 10. Reels 8 and 8 are preferably provided with a brake or spr1ng 2Q adapted to prevent its unwinding unless'the rope.9 is pulled with substantial force. Said buoy is made very buoyant and is shown as provided with a weight 11, normallysecured thereto and adapted to over come the greater portion of its buoyancy so that theanchoring effect of cable 4 will not be overcome, or materially changed if the buoy should be released from it. The buoy is also anchored tothe cable 4 by means of a wire 12. All of the connections 9', 9 and 12 and the weight 11 are shown as secured to the buoy by a common means such as snap hook 13 which is'normally held closed by loop 14. The tongue 15 of said hook is pivoted at 16 to the body orbase 17. Said being designed to allow the buoy to rise to the surface but to prevent its drifting away fromthe cable. Preferably the slack of said rope is taken up by winding it one reel 22 located in'the base portion 60 ofthe buoy. Preferably the outside layer of cable 21 proceeds from a predetermined or selected end or flange of the reel 22 to secure invariably smoothunwinding and to prevent overlapping and catching in unreeling. The

interior of the hub,.23,of said reel is preferably threaded on. a rod at which extends upwardly and may be secured to arm 25 pivoted at 26. On said arm is contact memoperation. A spring 30 may be provided to insure a positive action, if desired. It will readily be seen that the unwinding of, the reel as the buoy rises to the surface will cause the switch to be closed.

Within the float 40 the sending apparatus proper is preferably located, which may comprise an inductive vibratory'spark gap 80, and motor driven signal sending apparatus .81, all the apparatus being arranged to derive its energy from the batteries 35 in member 60.

Preferably in connection with the buoy I provide means to retard its ascent when re leased from the anchor cable.- For this urpose a drag member 33 may be provided which is, arranged somewhat in the form of an inverted parachute or an umbrella. Said member is shown as mounted near the top of fioat 40 .on mast 41 but within the confines of the wires 42 forming the aerial. The parachute as shown may be made of some fiexible material 36. which is held normally closed by raised ribs 37, made in the form of springs coiled atthe base. at 37'. Saidcoil may act as a stopto limit the openingof the parachute. In addition to or instead of said stop, light chains 39 may be provided for this purpose.

The antennae are shown as secared to an insulator 83 near the top of the mast, which insulates the same from the mast and from each other. A strain insulator 84 is provided for each wire. Preferably the mast'is made adjustable in height as by threading one portion 85 into another portion 86, so

that the wires may be readily tightened. All

projecting parts, such as the insulators 84 are covered or made conical in shape as.

shown at 86 to avoid catching in the net as the'buoy rises. All exposed portions such as the top of the mast and the member 60 are rounded for the purpose, also.

As stated above, in addition tosecuring the nets to the, anchor cable, the. nets are preferably connected to each other. The preferred form of this connection is shown in Fig. -9, in which the top cable 49 of net 1 is shown as secured to'a member 45 having a. hole 46 adjacent to its end, whilecable 50 of net 2 is provided with a forked member 47. A shear in 48 is driven therethrough' and through t e hole in member 45. I

In. order to preventsaid pin from shearing while the nets are being laid or launched, I may provide a ring or loop 68 ada ted to be caught over the end cables 49 an 50 of nets 1' and 2 respectively, in the manner in dicated in Fig. 8. A. in 51 may then'be driven or forced throug a' loop in one of the,

cables as shown. I prefer to construct the said pin of some difiicultly soluble substance, such as rock salt, cast in proper form so that after the net has been in the water for some time the pins will be-dissolved and the nets held only by the shear pins. The rock salt 51 may be covered with parafiin paper in order to protect the salt from moisture before the net is thrown overboard. The paper may be punctured as the net is being launched. 1

A modified construction of thesignalling switch is shown in Fig. 6.. According to this modification the rotating of the reel does not draw the switch 27' down into engagement with the contacts 28 and 29 directly as in the the spring 30 to force the switch down. Ac-

cording to this construction, the threaded rod 24' merely rests against the undersurface of member 25' but is-not positively secured thereto. The action of the switch may also be assisted or supplemented by making use of the variation in water pressure at the .also be raised to the su ace.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When a submarine boat strikes net 1 for instance,-the net will be torn from the adjacent nets by the parting of the shear pins 48 and at the same time torn from the anchor cable at the shear pins 6. The buoy .10 will not be released immediately, however, but reel 8 ,will begin to pay out as the boat carries. the net further awa When the end of rope 9 is reached, it will be jerked off the snap hook 13, unlocking the said hook so that anchor cable 4, weight 11 and the other. rope 9' are all released. The buoy will then start to rise, thereby unwinding reel 22, and opening the retarding device or parachute 33. As the surface is approached, the operating switch 27 is thrown as explained thereby placing the wireless signally means in operation.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described, the

1 principle of operation of my invention, to:

- I I I I comblnation and relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted ent is:

without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention extends to-such use.

Having described my invent1on, what I claim and desire to secure by- Letters Pat- 2. The combination with a cable adapted to besubmerge d in the sea, a net detachably secured thereto, a somewhat buoyant signala a second connecting means, means for rel'eas ling buoy held thereby below the surface of the water and means brought into operation by detachment of the net for increasing the buoyancy of said buoy and releasing it from,

said cable.

3. In an apparatusfor detecting vessels,- the combination with a signal buoy, of re.-.

leasable means for anchoring it-under water, means for releasing the same and a retarding device connected to said buoy to-lessen the speed of ascent to the surface.

4. signal buoy comprising a fioat,'means for holding-the same a predetermined distance below the 'surfaceof the water, releas-- ing means therefor, and a drag member connected'thereto'to retard the rate of ascent.

5. The combination with a cable adapted to be submerged in the sea, of a signal buoy, releasable means for connecting said buoy and cable to hold the same under water, and an auxiliary connection for holding the buoy when on the surface in the vicinity of the cab e. i

I 6. The.comb ination with a cable adapted. to be submerged in the sea, of a signal buoy,

releasable means. for connecting said'buoy and cable to hold the same under water' a reel mounted in said buoy adapted to hold ing said.releasa ble means, a signalling-device on said buoy, and means brought into trolling said device,

7. The combination with a cable adapted to be submerged in the sea, of asignal buoy action by the unwinding of said reel for concontaining radio-transmission apparatps,-re-

lea'sable means for connecting said buoy and cable to hold the same under water, a reel mounted in said buoy adapted to hold a second connecting means, means for releasmg said releasable means,- a s'wltch for energizing said'apparatus, and means brought' into operation by theunwinding of said reel e for operating said .swltch'.

' 8. The combination with an anchoring means, of a signal buoy and a net detachably secured thereto, a. hook inethe connections between said buoy and said means, and means connecting said net and said hook adaptedlto release it on the carrying away of said net.

9. The combination with a cable adapted to be submerged in the sea, buoyant means -on said cable for supporting part of the weight. thereof, a net detachably secured thereto, a buoyant signalling buoy held thereby below the surface of the water, a

weight attached to said buoy adapted to overcome a large part of its buoyant tendency. and -means brought into operation by the carrying away of the net for releasing said buoy-from said cable and for casting off said weight. Y

10. A radio-signalling buoy comprising a float, a mast attached thereto, antennae stretched between said mast and float, means for holding the same a predetermined distance below the surface of the water, releasing means therefor, and a drag member '-connected thereto to' retard the rate of ascent, said drag meinber being located within the confines of said antennae. A

. 11. Apparatus for detecting and indicatgaged from the'hook to release the signalling device from its anchor and the ring is then disengagedfrom the connection to disconnect the net from the signalling devicefsubstantially as described. 12. The combination with a cable adapted to be submerged in the sea, of a signal buoy, releasable means for connecting said buoy and cable to hold the same under water, means for releasing said releasable means, a reel mountedin said buoy adapted. to hold a second connectingv means,- a signalling device on said buoy, hydrostatically operated means for causing actuation of said device, means for preventing said hydrostatically operated means from causing actuation of said device, and means brought into action by the unwinding of said reel for renderin said preventingmeans inoperative. "i

y 13. The combination with a cable adapted to .be' submerged in the sea, of a net detachably secured thereto, a signal buoy releas ably connected to said cable and held thereby below the" surface of the water, means responsive to the carryin away of aid net .for releasing said buoy, a retarding means connected to said buoy to lessen the speed of ascent to the'surface.

14. The combination of a cable adapted to be submerged in'the sea, of a net detachably secured thereto, a signal buoy normally held thereby below the surface of the water,

means responsive to the carrying away of said net for releasing said buoy, a signalling device on said buoy, a reel mounted on said buoy and connected to said cable, and means brought into action by unwinding of said reel for controlling said device.

15. The combination with a cable adapted to be submerged in the sea, of a somewhat buoyant signalling buoy held thereby below the surface of the water, a reel in said buoy connected to said cable, means for increasing the buoyancy of said buoy and releasing the same from said cable, a signalling device on said buoy, and means brought into action by the unwinding of said reel for controlling said device.

16.'A radio-signallin buoy comprising a I float, a inast attache thereto, antennae stretched between said mast and float, means for holding the same a predetermined distance below the surface of the Water, a net connected to said float for releasing the same,

and a drag member connected thereto to retard the rate of ascent, said drag member beinglocated within the confines of said antennae. I

17.. The combination with a cable adapted to be submerged in the sea, of a signal buoy,

releasable means for connecting said buoy ELMER A. SPERRY. 

